RED ALERT. Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office personnel prepare rescue equipment amid the continuing torrential rains in this file photo on July 17, 2023. The province was placed under a red alert status due to Super Typhoon Egay on Tuesday (July 25, 2023). (File photo courtesy of PDRRMO Facebook page)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The provinces of Pangasinan and La Union were placed under a red alert status as Super Typhoon Egay battered Northern Luzon, bringing heavy rains and enhancing the southwest monsoon on Tuesday.
In a phone interview, Pangasinan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) operations and training head Vincent Chu said the personnel and equipment of the PDRRMO, the local government units (LGUs) and other national government agencies have been deployed.
“One of the teams was deployed to Western Pangasinan ready to augment the possible rescue or evacuation,” he said.
Chu said the gale warning has also been raised, prohibiting fisherfolk from setting sail due to high waves at sea.
“As of 3 p.m. there were still no reported evacuees or any untoward incident in the province while all roads are still passable and river systems as well as the San Roque Dam’s water level are still at normal,” he said.
Among the LGUs which earlier suspended classes due to the bad weather were Dagupan City, Binmaley and Calasiao.
The provincial government of La Union, on the other hand, suspended classes in all levels both public and private schools, and work in all government offices except those in charge of disaster management.
Suspension of work in private companies was encouraged and left to the discretion of their respective heads of office.
The provincial government has assured the public of the full capacity of response teams and logistics assets.
“Vehicular manpower, evacuation facilities, and all response and rescue logistics of the province are ready for deployment and utilization. The Provincial General Services Office also prepared their stock inventory of welfare goods readily available for distribution should any LGU require augmentation,” it said in a statement.
Flooding risk
Meanwhile, Pangasinan is set to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Center for Disaster Preparedness Foundation, Inc. (CDPFI) for the implementation of the ridge-to-reef approach in disaster risk reduction and management called ‘Scaling Across Integrated Risk Management at National and Local Levels (SAIL) Project.”
“Using the ridge-to-reef approach and landscape-wide or river basin modeling, the project will put focus on comprehensive and integrated risk governance through conservation, sustainable management, and restoration of natural ecosystems to increase the resilience of the Agno River Basin communities against the impacts of climate change and natural hazards common and affecting the localities,” read the resolution approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan on Monday.
The municipalities of Alcala, Bautista, Bugallon, Lingayen, Mangatarem, Rosales, Urbiztondo and San Carlos City are the main partners of the provincial government and the CDPFI in the implementation of the SAIL project.
“It is more important than ever for the province to invest in disaster risk reduction management like the SAIL project in order to have safe, resilient, and developed communities,” the resolution read.
The Agno River, which has one of the largest river basins in the country, runs across a catchment area of 5,952 square kilometers within the province. (PNA)
